Pianimo
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 15, 2011
- Messages
- 536
- Location
- UK
...or, at least, I feel like one today. I had an appointment with the hygienist - my second of four - and it went ok. No, actually, it went really well! At least, she thought so, and I know she's right. I mean, major positives are:
Is this just me?? Or can anyone relate? There seem to be some of you out there who feel ok/positive even about going to the dentist now. How/when did things change for you? Is there hope for me yet?!
Thanks for reading.
- I kept my nerves under control, didn't cry/shake etc - I felt really anxious, but I managed to act mostly like a 'normal' patient.
- Thanks to the gel; her stopping very frequently so I could swallow/'recover' (and even more often if I asked); suction; her manner; and, at one point me pushing her hand away! lol - I didn't gag at all. Came close yes, but never fully did.
- She was really pleased with my teeth/gums and how I've been taking care of them - said it's like a different mouth from the one she first saw! The parts of my gums which were 5 are now all 3 (can't remember what this means, but I know it's good!). I know my mouth is so much healthier, and that's what I want. (It also looks better, although I still don't want to see it more than I have to! lol)
- She was really gentle, friendly and accommodating. I let her do quite a bit, because she's made it clear she'll do all she can to avoid me feeling any pain or discomfort, and to keep me from gagging, and that she'll stop as soon as I ask, so I trusted her to try whatever she thought I might manage.
- She kept telling me how well I was doing, to let her do so much (normal stuff, but more than she'd thought I'd manage), and she wasn't being patronising, but genuinely was complimenting me. Even though I did sometimes ask her to stop, or said I'd rather leave something until next time when she asked me, not to mention making strange requests (e.g. I needed her and the nurse to look away while I rinsed and spat...ugh, I hate even saying the word!...all part of my mouth phobia issues), she didn't mind at all, and and I know she's really happy with how the appointments are going.
- That went fine. Obviously - it's just a hygiene appointment, and it went fine last time. So why were you so nervous beforehand, ill and everything (IBS flare-up), and so tense all the way through? At one point, when things were going fine, you nearly cried just from the tension. What an idiot.
- You didn't gag. So it's not really a problem and you're being silly. And since you didn't gag today, she'll think you were making it all up and just making a fuss. [Seriously, at the end I was more than half wishing I'd gag just once, so she'd know I'm not just making it all up!!!]
- You still didn't let her do the insides of the teeth at the back. So, the same old problem hasn't gone away, you've just avoided it. [Yep, I realise this completely contradicts the previous point!] What if you can never let her? Or, next time, you're going to gag like mad and throw up. Better start worrying now...
- She's a wonderful hygienist, just what you'd wanted but hadn't dared to think possible. You're starting to really trust and feel befriended by her. But you're leaving. So, it's actually bad if you build a good realtionship with her. Because then it will be harder to leave, and no-one else will ever be as good. So really, two more great appointments with this great person would be a bad thing.
- You're feeling like this, after a 'good' appointment. So (a) every dental appointment you ever go to is going to leave you feeling dreadful, and (b) once more, you're an idiot.
Is this just me?? Or can anyone relate? There seem to be some of you out there who feel ok/positive even about going to the dentist now. How/when did things change for you? Is there hope for me yet?!
Thanks for reading.